Ghost of Midnight

Best of FPF: Planted! The Barre Vegetable Exchange Group

Mark reached out to the Barre Forum with visions of this summer’s bumper crop. We thought his idea was well worth a share:

“I just planted spinach, lettuce, and carrots in my tiny backyard garden. Even though it is small, I anticipate having more than my partner and I can eat. I was wondering if there was any interest in having a community garden swap a couple Saturdays a month starting in June? Folks could bring excess veggies down to Currier Park say the first and third Saturdays of the month between 9 and 11 and trade? If you don’t have any veggies but bake bread or whatever, you’d be welcome to bring that as well. This would be 100 percent barter, no money exchanged.”

Mark reported back that there was an immediate response to this proposal and the Barre Vegetable Exchange Group (BVEG) including veggies, breads, and flowers is now in full planning mode!

Best of FPF: A Tinmouth Feast

Cindy shared reflections in the Tinmouth Forum on what sounds like a Family Heritage Potluck. We thought it was well worth a share:

“Neighbors and friends gathered to share food and stories at the Tinmouth Community Center. The idea was to bring a meal and share a story about where the dish originated and why it was special to you. Among the countries represented were Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Morocco, and British Columbia. US states included Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington, Idaho, and Massachusetts. [selected excerpts below]

Melody … baked wacky cake cupcakes that were popular during a period of egg shortages.

Betti baked the official cookie of Nanaimo, BC. “It’s not exactly health food, but the person who gave me the recipe lived to be 105.”

Helen brought her special Greek marinated fish passed down from her father’s Greek father and his Russian wife.

Tracy brought an Italian corn pudding passed down from Chuck’s Great Aunt Josephine. It was a childhood favorite of Chuck’s and was included in the recipe box they inherited from his mother.

Robbie brought popovers for the gathering and described how he likes to bake them early in the morning for his family before he leaves for work.

Logan brought her grandmother’s famous potato bake. When her grandmother developed dementia, cousin Molly made the potato bake and brought it to every single family dinner thereafter.

Logan brought a handtowel she designed displaying the recipe that memorializes this dish and the women behind it.

This is just a taste of the evening as there were too many stories and recipes to include here!”

Best of FPF: Wave and Say Hi

William shared some reflections on the Granville Forum we thought we were worth a share:

“I found myself in a jury pool again this week. I’ve had the pleasure previously when I lived in Boston, but this has been my first experience as a Vermont resident. As is customary, the court officer begins calling names and folks file into the jury area one at a time.

The officer called a man and then after a brief pause, he called the name again, a little louder and more clearly. A voice said, “I’m comin’!” An elderly man emerged from the pool, at a full-on shuffle. He looked fit, though a little hunched. While it was clear he was a senior, there was no question he could toss a hay bale or connect an ornery implement to his tractor PTO. His response brought laughter to the room.

As part of the process, attorneys ask questions of the potential jurors to make sure they are appropriate to sit for the trial. They will ask broad questions and jurors can raise their hand if they want to answer. The attorney asked if anyone in the jury knew either party to the trial. The man raised his hand and indicated he lived a mile or so away from them both. The attorneys were of course interested in his response and asked if he had occasion to speak to them or some such thing. The man answered, “If they want to talk to me they can, and if I want to answer them, I will.” He had everyone’s attention and we were all delighted. The attorney, wanting to clarify his relationship, asked if he could be objective in his deliberations. The man showed the tiniest amount of frustration as he searched for the words and then said, “Well, I might wave and say hi, but I’m not going dancing with ’em.” The courtroom, including the judge, erupted in laughter.

This was a good reminder to connect – and listen to some stories – from seniors in our communities. All too soon we’ll be in their shoes, “Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise.”

Best of FPF: Anatomy of an Ask

Dan posted this appreciation in the Newfane Forum after asking if “anyone have a car that you would be willing to rent out for a few days? Our car stopped moving yesterday and goes into the dealership on Thursday. I was rather surprised that a regular rental car is $85 per day. I know that this is a long shot, but if anyone has something that moves that you would be willing to rent, we would like to do so.”

We thought it was well worth a share:

3:00 I send a post to FPF looking for a car to rent
4:00+- FPF posts it
5:00 first email offering a car
7:00 knock on door, it’s a neighbor with the keys to the car they just delivered to our house!
9:00 gratefully declined three more offers of a car, plus a couple of good suggestions.

So, this is a bit of a plug for the efficiency and efficacy of FPF.

But even more, it is a huge shout-out to all of the neighborhood for so much kindness and caring. Thank you all!

Best of FPF: A Farewell to the Neighborhood

Melanie posted this in the Five Sisters Forum in Burlington. Given that it is the neighborhood where the concept for Front Porch Forum was born 25 years ago this month, we thought this was well worth a share:

“We wanted to let you all know that we are moving down the road into a much smaller house. It still seems unreal that we are moving, and we will deeply miss living here and sharing and connecting with you all as part of our immediate community.

I have such a long list of treasured memories and things that have brought us together, from caroling and plant swaps, street clean-ups and Halloween happenings, to the Calahan Community Gardens, soccer at the park, and THOUSANDS of dog walks and neighborly chats. Add neighborhood art projects, Longe Brothers visits, Shy Guy days, caring for each other’s chickens, borrowing and loaning tools and equipment, spices, and half and half, accompanying one another through births, deaths, emergencies, and celebrations.

Our kids were born here, and it has been an ideal place to raise our family in community. We will always hold these memories in our hearts.”